What to do for at-sea days?

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Trying to plan our first cruise to the Caribbean this summer. When looking at itineraries, one of the differences is number of at-sea days. What do you do during this time? We are not big on sitting by the pool or gambling. Yes, we can relax, read, walk around the ship one day. But what if there are 2 or more days when the ship is just cruising?

Just to give you an idea, our family includes two 50 something parents & 18 & 22 yo "kids". Ships we are considering, based on itineraries, port of departure, dates etc are Serenade of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas and Emerald Princess.

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We do a big work-out to try to fight some of the calories! We also read a lot, enjoy the amenities of the ship (putt putt, basketball, ping-pong), have some "alone" time ;) and generally relax. Our teens are busy off with their new friends but we spend some time with them playing games (we had huge scrabble tournaments on our last cruise!) or doing stuff. You really can be as busy as you want. Plus, our port days are usually pretty jam packed so we enjoy those down days.

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We read, sit on balcony, go to some of the guest lecturers, go to some port talks, play trivia, play bridge, go to a wine tasting, get together with freinds, attend a Cruise Critic Meet & Greet or luncheon, etc.

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Ok--hubby HATES sea-days....he's not into sunning or reading or relaxing...he'll do the casino, but on the last 3 cruises, the ship's dealers NEVER lost....not much fun if you have no chance of even breaking even!

Find a cruise with fewer sea days.....unless you're into bingo or killing time, you'll be bored. I'm content with sitting by the pool, but many folks aren't into that....

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We actually enjoy the sea days. It gives us time to chat with new friends we've met. There are always lots of trivia games to play. On Royal Caribbean, there are lots of things like the flow rider and ice skating. You can go see extra shows. Take an afternoon nap.

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I normally don't like just sitting around a pool, and I'm not good at doing nothing. But somehow on a ship, I become an expert at lazy.

I can't tell you what I do on sea days, but they seem to go very quickly. Between exploring the ship, walking off meals, people watching, a quick swim, changing clothes, meals, an iced tea on deck, trivia (we didn't know it could be so much fun), maybe a lecture I don't know - the day just flies by.

And if your ship as a teen program your kids will be fine with it.

I thought I would hate sea days but I'm so looking forward to this coming cruise with 2 sea days.

But I can see how lazy can be a difficult skill to master (I'm not being sarcastic) so perhaps look for cruises with fewer sea days.

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Trying to plan our first cruise to the Caribbean this summer. When looking at itineraries, one of the differences is number of at-sea days. What do you do during this time? We are not big on sitting by the pool or gambling. Yes, we can relax, read, walk around the ship one day. But what if there are 2 or more days when the ship is just cruising?

Just to give you an idea, our family includes two 50 something parents & 18 & 22 yo "kids". Ships we are considering, based on itineraries, port of departure, dates etc are Serenade of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas and Emerald Princess.

You would be surprised all the things there are to do on a ship. Besides swimming and hot tubs, free gym, shuffleboard, putt putt golf, bingo (pay extra), karoake, music all day all over the ship, art shows (if you sign up for the free drawing, you can look and drink free champagne), las vegas type shows, comedians (early and late showings). Many people bring highlighters to mark off on the capers (ships newsletter) what they want to do for the day. Which ever one you choose, you will have a great time.

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Our kind of cruise! Too bad we can't afford it. Our longest to date wa 14 nights and it was great. Nothing like relaxing somewhere on sea days..Even the Balcony is great for great relaxation. Just staring into nothingless, reading and having a cocktail or coffee. Nothing beats it.

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I love at sea days. My last cruise had 13 of them and only 7 port days.

So what do i do - unwind -chill out basically

Read the newspaper over coffee (never have time when I'm working), go to the gym, go to the spa for a treatment then chill out for a while in the thermal suite. Have long leasurely meals in the main dining room. Sometimes go to some of the cativities (quiz, talks 9especailly if they are on food or wine!), go to some of the classes. Also browse the shops, meet up with other passengers.

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I love at sea days. My last cruise had 13 of them and only 7 port days.

So what do i do - unwind -chill out basically

Read the newspaper over coffee (never have time when I'm working), go to the gym, go to the spa for a treatment then chill out for a while in the thermal suite. Have long leasurely meals in the main dining room. Sometimes go to some of the cativities (quiz, talks 9especailly if they are on food or wine!), go to some of the classes. Also browse the shops, meet up with other passengers.

I've no idea where the day goes but it is never boring.

Where do you find a newspaper?

Edited March 10, 2010 by paul929207

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The cruiseline I use, has a whole catalogue of newspapers from around the World. ou place an order the day before and they print it off for you (via the internet) and someone delivers it to your cabin. On European cruises they charge 2 euros. Don't know if other cruiselines offer this service.

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I am not one to just sit around the pool and drink all day while we're at sea. But there really is always a ton to do. I usually wake up early, take a job on the track, have some coffee on the balcony, breakfast, listen to some music on the lido, hit the slide, watch the sea go by, lunch, explore the ship, putt putt, pizza, cocktail, dinner. And repeat.

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We actually enjoy the sea days. It gives us time to chat with new friends we've met. There are always lots of trivia games to play. On Royal Caribbean, there are lots of things like the flow rider and ice skating. You can go see extra shows. Take an afternoon nap.

I don't think the Enchantment and Serenade have the flow rider or ice skating. Ice Skating is on the Voyager class, Freedom class, and Oasis class. Flow rider is on the Freedom class and Oasis class. Both the Enchantment and Serenade have the rock climbing wall (free). I think only the Enchantment has a mini-golf course (free) -- but this can be really windy on sea days. There is usually a "card room" for board games -- I suggest you bring your own cards and games. I'm sure there will be video games (not free). My grandkids are never bored on sea days.

If you want the fewest sea days, you might look at the Southern Caribbean such as those out of Puerto Rico.

Edited March 11, 2010 by Jimnbigd

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Trying to plan our first cruise to the Caribbean this summer. When looking at itineraries, one of the differences is number of at-sea days. What do you do during this time? We are not big on sitting by the pool or gambling. Yes, we can relax, read, walk around the ship one day. But what if there are 2 or more days when the ship is just cruising?

Just to give you an idea, our family includes two 50 something parents & 18 & 22 yo "kids". Ships we are considering, based on itineraries, port of departure, dates etc are Serenade of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas and Emerald Princess.

Woodside_boomer,

You will find plenty to do on all these ships. Here is a link to the daily program from the Serenade of the Seas followed by a link to a program from Princess. You will find other daily programs for this ship and others by going to http://www.cruiseclues.com

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Ooooohhhh, really good ships! You are gonna have sooooo much fun. At sea days are never boring, the ship plans so much to do on those days especially for the "kids". I would like to just read and relax, but I always get dragged into trivia, classes, movies, etc. Have a super great trip!

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If you are afraid you would be bored, try one of the larger ships. They will have much more to do on board. The Serenade has the fewest ammenities of the ships you mention, and the Voyager will have the ice skating rink and probably a more "younger" crowd than the Serenade or the Emerald, although the Emerald is a larger ship.

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There is so much to do on some of the ships that people bring highlighters to mark off on the capers(ships newspaper) on what they want to do for the the day. Art Shows, shopping, Rock climbing (on some) or putt putt (on some) the gym, swimming hot tubs, actually spending quality time together that you are enjoying, catching shows and music, casino, trivia shows, and maybe relas a little after the big day they had before... attend las vegas type shows, comedian shows, good music shows... How much or little you do is really all up to you.. relax or or be as busy as you can..

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My wife and I love sea days. She prefers to sit by the pool and read a book, and while she is doing that I am usually asleep in our cabin. We attend the trivia and other comps, watch bingo, go for walks around the deck, have a drink, read the paper, go to dance classes, watch a movie, go to the art auctions (never buy), and think about what we are going to do on the next day in port. They are so relaxing, but also busy. On the two cruises we have done so far we have found ourselves spoilt for choice about what to do and will spend breakfast 'discussing' (having a heated discussion) over whose things we are going to do. You can do nothing or everything or something in between. We love reconnecting with each other, and not just in THAT way. Personally I love sitting on a balcony (we have one ever had a cabin with one) and watch the sea and world go by, it sounds dull, but it is great. Love sea days.

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I like to lay by the pool, swim, sit in the hot tub, go the buffet, sit on the balcony, explore the shops, watch the pool games/contests, etc... Mostly, I like to just take time to relax!

Depending on what ship you're on, there might be a basketball court, track, mini golf course, waterslide, ping pong table, trivia contests, port talks, other activities. The dining room might also be open for lunch.

You'll have plenty to do. Just be openminded and try some different things. In my experience, you tend to meet people who like to do the same things. There will be the people that like to hang out on the lido deck, the people that like to go to trivia, and so on.